Tennis racket and the like



Mamh J. HATTON 2,274,783

TENNIS RACKET AND THE LIKE 7 Filed Feb. 26, 1940 INVENTOR,

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 3, 1942' UNITE TES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in tennis rackets and the like and particularly to a racket wherein the frame and handle are formed of a plastic material, positioned about a single tubular member, which is bent to conform to the general shape of the frame and handle.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of a tennis racket made of a plastic material and reinforced throughout its entire handle and frame by a single tubular member of resilient material.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a tennis racket having a resilient metal framework encased in a plastic material, whereby a sturdy yet light and flexible racket is obtained.

Another object is to provide a racket having hollow tubular reinforcing members adapted to receive different amounts of material whereby the racket may be balanced at any desired point.

Other objects are economy and simplicity of construction, durability and efiiciency of operation, and adaptability for use as a racket for various kinds of games requiring the use of a racket.

The many other objects will be better understood by referring to the following specification when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a tennis racket partly broken away, embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on line II-II of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line III-III of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4. is an enlarged sectional view taken on line IV-IV of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a modified form of the device wherein a ferrule is provided to receive the cat-gut.

Throughout the several views, like reference characters designate similar parts and the numeral 8 is a tennis racket having a substantially elliptical frame, or head portion 10, upon which the gut I2 is adapted to be strung, and a handle M which extends outwardly from the frame in alignment with the major axis of the elliptical frame.

The tubular metal member [6 is formed as shown in Fig. 2, to serve as a reinforcement in the handle and about the oval frame, thereby presenting a unitary resilient metal member which will add to the strength of the racket and because of its tubular form, will not be object-ionably heavy. Any desired amount of weight and resiliency may be obtained by simply varying the tube size and shape of the tube.

A tube made of an aluminum alloy known as Duralumin has proven to be well suited for making member l6.

Since the reinforcing member [6 is made of a continuous tubing that extends from the end of the handle about the frame and then back to the end of the handle, no joints are required and the chance of breakage is reduced to a minimum.

At the neck I8 of the handle, the two'legs of the metal member I6 are close together or may contact and at this point, they may be bound together by means of a band 28, or by any other suitable means such as welding, riveting, soldering, etc. From neck l8, the two legs of member l6 diverge slightly so that in the handle proper, they are slightly spaced apart, as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

As a means to regulate the weight of the handle which would be too heavy if the plastic material was cast solid about the two legs of the tubular member, a hollow, elongated housing 22 is provided at its opposite ends with a pair of openings 24 through which the two legs of tube l6 are fitted. This housing may be made of any suitable size and shape and serves to preclude a determined volume of the plastic material 25, which is molded about tube I6. This plastic ma-' terial 25 should adhere to the metal tube and have the property of bending without cracking or checking. A cellulose base material has been found to be a very suitable material.

The plastic material is made to conform to the a desired shape of the racket and completely covers the reinforcing tube to a sufficient thickness to insure proper protection for the tube and to permit of proper flexing. Bakelite and some of the other plastics, having suflicient flexing qual- The strings or'gut l2 are threaded through holes 28 formed through the head of the racket, and grooves 30 interconnecting the adjacent holes may be provided to receive the string below the frame surface.

A cork 32 set in each of the legs of tube l6 may be adjusted to any. desired position and then a filler of a desired specific gravity inserted in the legs and secured in position by outer corks 34 to properly balance the racket to meet the requirements of the individual purchaser.

An end cap 36 normally made of leather, is secured to the outer end of the handle.

Referring now to the structure shown in Fig. 5, it will be noted that sleeve or ferrule 40 is extended through the opening formed through tube l6 and extends therebeyond the thickness of the coating of plastic covering 25. For convenience of manufacture, this ferrule 40 will be placed in tube l6 and then placed in the mold for receiving the plastic coating.

By making slight changes to meet the requirements of the particular games, this racket can be made for tennis, squash, racquets, lacrosse and badminton, in which strung rackets or bats are used.

It is evident that many changes might be made in form and material, and it is therefore desired to be' limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A racket having an oval head and a handle of molded material, and a resilient tubular member of symmetrical shape embedded in said molded material to extend about said oval head with its end portions terminating adjacent the outer extremity of said handle, and a band encompassing said tube portions adjacent the juncture of the handle with the head completely embedded in said molded material to secure the said tube portions together.

2. A racket having an oval head and a handle of plastic material, and a resilient tubular metal member of elliptical cross sectional form embedded in said plastic material, bent to form a closed loop to extend around said oval head and having its end portions spaced apart and terminating adjacent the outer end of said handle, the major axis of said elliptical tubular member being perpendicular to the major plane of the racket head.

3. A racket having an oval head and a handle of plastic material, a resilient tubular member embedded in said plastic materiaLbent to form a closed loop to extend about said oval head and having its end portions spaced apart and terminating adjacent the outer end of said handle, and a housing covering a portion of said end portions of the tube positioned within said plastic material.

4. A racket having an oval head and a handle of plastic material, a resilient tubular metal member positioned within said plastic material bent to form a closed loop to extend around said oval head and having its end portions spaced apart and terminating adjacent the outer end of said handle, and adjustable partitions within each of the end portions of said tube relatively adjustable whereby a compartment of predetermined size may be formed to receiveweighting material.

5. A racket having a head and a handle of plastic material, a resilient tubular member embedded in said plastic material, bent to form a closed loop to extend about said head and having its end portions spaced apart, and terminating adjacent the outer end of said handle, and a housing covering a portion of said end portions of the tube positioned within the plastic ma terial.

6. A racket having a unitary oval head and a handle of molded material, and a resilient tubular member of symmetrical shape embedded in said molded material to extend through the material of said oval head and said handle and with its end portions terminating adjacent the outer extremity of said handle.

JOHN HATTON; 

